Dusan Kozisek hopes to find the World Cup shape in Liberec

13 January 2011 08:46

With the absence of Lukas Bauer and Martin Jaks who are recovering from Tour de Ski it will be Dusan Kozisek who will lead the Czech team in Liberec.

Kozisek stormed in the international scene in 2005 when he stunned the field together with Martin Koukal with surprising bronze medal in Team Sprint Free in Oberstdorf 2005. Two years later at World Championships in Sapporo he sealed the success again and scored another bronze medal in the same discipline, this time with compatriot Milan Sperl.

This season is Kozisek currently on the 32nd place in the Sprint Standings and has not found the World Cup shape so far. Double World Champs medalist hopes to meet it at home in Liberec. "Competition in Liberec will be fierce. Norwegians, Swedish or Russians will do their best to show off to win a ticket for World Champs in Oslo," knows Kozisek who carefully sets goals for upcoming weekend. "First step is qualify for quarterfinal. After that luck is an important variable and anything can happen," said Kozisek at the press conference held in Liberec yesterday.

Last year at the Prague Sprint, which was part of Tour de Ski he scored fourth place and personal best at World Cup level. This season Kozisek has managed to win World Cup points twice and in Davos he qualified with 8th best time. "At the first training camp on snow I got inflammation in my hand and collected a training deficit that I will not probably be able to eliminate this season particularly in longer distances. I believe that in sprints my shape is on the increase," revealed Kozisek.

In spite of warm weather the Czech sprint specialist believes that World Cup in Liberec is not jeopardized. "Last two days I trained in Vesec. Course was a bit soft but it was basically ready for the World Cup," he commented. It is not a surprise that the courses are demanding. "I like the profile very much but I'd rather compete on the ladies' course. The first uphill, which will require a lot of energy is shorter and is less steep. The downhill, which follows right after is very technical and with stiff legs it is not a bed of roses," knows Kozisek.

Two years ago at the World Championships 2009 Kozisek failed to qualify for quarter final and finished 41st. "I hope it will be better on Saturday," he optimistically concluded.